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Gutsy win for Fitchburg State men

Sentinel & Enterprise

Updated:
12/01/2017 06:37:58 AM EST

FITCHBURG -- The Fitchburg State University men's basketball team posted its second win of the season with a 73-71 victory over visiting Rhode Island College in Thursday's non-conference clash at Parkinson's Gymnasium.

The Falcons (2-3) started slow, going 0 for 4 from the floor to open the game, but battled back to tie the contest, 8-8, when Troy DaCosta hit an uncontested layup with 12:59 remaining in the half. Fitchburg State built a five-point lead, 16-11, after a Nicholas Tracy 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Tyrell St. John.

The Anchorman (2-5) responded with a 19-6 run to lead 30-22 with five minutes to play in the stanza.

The Falcons closed out the first frame with a 15-7 run as Rhode Island senior Roosevelt Shider and Falcons junior Jerrell Gomes traded shots from behind the arc for a 37-37 tie at intermission.

Early in the second half, Shider converted back-to-back shots from 3-point land to give Rhode Island a 45-39 lead. The Falcons pushed back and led 53-48 after a junior guard Jonathan Perez drained a 3-pointer at the 13:38 mark.

The Anchorman pulled within one, 70-69, with 1:27 to play. Stingy defense and an open-lane, fast-break score from Tracy sealed the win for the Falcons.

Gomes had a team-high 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting, with three rebounds and two assists. Perez added 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on the night for the Falcons.

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St. John contributed 16 points off the bench, going 6 for 14 from the floor for the hosts. Four Falcons were in double-digits for points.

For Rhode Island, Shider led all scorers with 20 points and Justin Campbell had a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with six points, three assists and a block.

Rhode Island College held the advantage on the boards, out-rebounding the Falcons 48-41.

It was the 28th meeting between the two schools on the basketball court, with the Falcons just 6-22 all-time when taking on the Anchormen.

Fitchburg State will return to action on Saturday when it travels to WPI for a 2 p.m. tilt. The Anchormen will host Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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